C-381 – The Protection against Extortion Act – increases the punishments for extortion.
The changes that C-381 makes to the Criminal Code are a little specific so we’ll start by looking at the current punishments for extortion. Right now if you engage in extortion using a prohibited or restricted firearm, or engage in extortion with any firearm as part of organized crime, the minimum punishment is 5 years in prison (7 years if it’s a second offence or more), and the maximum is life. Any other acts of extortion have no minimum sentence and a maximum of life.
C-381 makes it so extortion as part of organized crime always has a minimum sentence, whether a weapon is used or not. It also makes it so using a firearm that isn’t restricted or prohibited and not being part of organized crime has a minimum sentence of 4 years. Any other case of extortion gets a minimum sentence of 3 years.
Finally arson as part of extortion will be considered an aggravating factor and result in harsher sentencing.
Progress
C-381 is currently waiting for its Second Reading vote.